Early December 1 December
44°F
Typical afternoon high
40% historical wet-day frequency
Switzerland · Mountains
Lucerne & central Switzerland
in December.
Is December a good time?
Cold days.
More overnight stays than November.
December averages 44°F afternoons, with about 14 rain days.
- Afternoons
- 44°F
- Rain days
- 14
- Visitor demand
- 46%of July peak
Historical Zentralschweiz regional averages, not a forecast or a measure of queues. Overnight demand compares average stays per day. Covers Lucerne, Engelberg, Mount Titlis and Mount Pilatus; conditions vary within the region.
Overall match
5.1/10 · scores & prioritiesThis weather score measures sightseeing comfort. Snow and ski conditions need a separate check.
What matters most?
Weather 50% · Crowds 30% · Cost 20%
#11 of 12 months here · Balanced mix
Weather4.1/10Fair
CrowdsModerate seasonvs its own year; overnight stays do not measure queuesFor its size, busier than most of Europe this month
CostExpensivefor Europe; Switzerland-wide price level
Overall combines weather, overnight demand and cost. It does not include sea temperature.
Plan your December
What to expect.
What should I pack?
Afternoons around 44°F (7°C): a warm coat; nights around 30°F (−1°C): a winter coat, hat and gloves. Bring rain gear: about 14 days with at least 1 mm of rain. About 9 hours of daylight.
A typical day: temperatures & daylightAfternoons, nights & daylight Show detailsHide details
About 9 hours of daylight.
The sun rises about 08:05 and sets about 16:38 (local time, mid-month). Mornings start around 30°F (−1°C); afternoons reach about 44°F (7°C). Expect rain on about 14 days in a typical December.
Typical afternoon
44°F (7°C)
average daily high, 15 recent Decembers
Night low
30°F (−1°C)
average daily minimum
Daylight
8h 33m
on the 15th, computed from latitude
Early, middle or late?
Early or late December?
Early and late December have similar afternoon averages. The afternoon high averages 44°F on the 1st, versus 44°F on the 31st.
Mid December 15 December
44°F
Typical afternoon high
43% historical wet-day frequency
Late December 31 December
44°F
Typical afternoon high
38% historical wet-day frequency
Historical daily averages from 2011–2025, smoothed over two weeks. A seasonal pattern, not a forecast. This does not establish which week has the lowest prices or fewest visitors.
Public holidays · 2026: 8 Dec Immaculate Conception; 25 Dec Christmas; 26 Dec St Stephen's Day.
Daily calendar & holiday datesDecember 2026 · historical weather & dated holidays Show calendarHide calendar
December 2026 calendar
Weather shows historical patterns, not a forecast. Holidays and events use the dates shown for 2026.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 144° | 244° | 343° | 443° | 543° | 643° | |
| 743° | 843° | 943° | 1043° | 1144° | 1244° | 1344° |
| 1444° | 1544° | 1644° | 1745° | 1845° | 1945° | 2045° |
| 2145° | 2245° | 2345° | 2445° | 2545° | 2645° | 2745° |
| 2845° | 2945° | 3044° | 3144° |
Afternoon high rain likely (25%+) local school holidays public holiday event
Afternoons warm from about 43°F (6°C) in the first week to 45°F (7°C) in the last. The chance of a wet day runs 36–44%. Local schools are out 19–31 December 2026.
Some schools here are off between 19 and 31 December 2026 (Christmas holidays and winter holidays); the dates differ across the region. Public holidays: 8 Dec Immaculate Conception; 25 Dec Christmas; 26 Dec St Stephen's Day. Elsewhere in December 2026, the share of people living where schools are out on a typical day: France 39%, Germany 29%, Italy 35%, Spain 32%. (School holidays: OpenHolidays, ODbL.)
Crowds and cost
Visitor season
Will it be busy?
Moderate season. December averages 46% of July's overnight stays per day. More overnight stays than November.
Overnight stays across Zentralschweiz do not measure queues, day visitors or congestion at individual sights. For its size, busier than most of Europe this month.
Hotel price season
Will it be cheaper?
A little below usual. Estimated from national hotel prices and local visitor demand; no measured regional room rate is available.
Fewer overnight stays do not automatically mean cheaper rooms. Check actual quotes for your trip.
Switzerland as a whole
Well above EU average
2024 restaurants and hotels price level: 171 where the EU average is 100. A relative index, not a room rate.
Year-to-year variation
How much does December vary?
Across the recorded years
In the 15 years from 2011 to 2025, the month's afternoons averaged between 40°F (4°C) and 50°F (10°C); in 11 of them they were within 3°F (1.5°C) of the typical 44°F (7°C). Rain days ranged from 1 to 21; half the years had 6–16.
Rain days in each December
Rain days
14
at least 1 mm, typical year; about 18 in a wet year
Mostly sunny days
4 of 31
cloud cover under 30%
Years with a 95°F+ day
0 of 15
no December in the last 15 years had a day at or above 95°F (35°C)
Good weather days
5 of 31
rated very good or better
See every recorded DecemberHistorical monthly averages, year by year Show detailsHide details
| Year | Afternoon high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 43°F | 21 |
| 2012 | 40°F | 20 |
| 2013 | 44°F | 6 |
| 2014 | 43°F | 16 |
| 2015 | 50°F | 3 |
| 2016 | 46°F | 1 |
| 2017 | 40°F | 16 |
| 2018 | 44°F | 15 |
| 2019 | 46°F | 15 |
| 2020 | 43°F | 13 |
| 2021 | 43°F | 13 |
| 2022 | 43°F | 13 |
| 2023 | 45°F | 16 |
| 2024 | 43°F | 14 |
| 2025 | 47°F | 3 |
Checked against 16 local weather stations. How we check
Compare dates
November, December
or January?
| Typical conditions | Nov | Dec | Jan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 50°F | 44°F | 42°F |
| Rain days | 9 | 14 | 13 |
| Overnight demand | 37% | 46% | 42% |
November: Warmer afternoons and fewer rain days than December. Less overnight demand. November guide →
January: Cooler afternoons than December. January guide →
Overnight demand measures accommodation stays, not queues.
Compare any of the 12 monthsChoose another month and compare it with December Show comparisonHide comparison
Yellow marks the top three months on the Balanced mix. December stays as your reference.
March has a Weather score at least 1.0 point higher than December, without a substantially busier visitor season.
Your comparison
December or November?
Overnight stays are 37% of the busiest month.
National hotel prices and local visitor demand suggest a little below usual. No measured regional room rate is available.
Read the November guide →| Typical conditions | December | November |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 44°F | 50°F |
| Nights | 30°F | 36°F |
| Rain days | 14 | 9 |
| Visitor season | Moderate season | Moderate season |
| Overall / 10 | 5.1 | 5.8 |
| Month rank | #11 | #6 |
Every month, in detail Show detailsHide details
| Month | Overall | Rank | High | Low | Rain days | Weather | Visitor season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5.0 | #12 | 42°F | 29°F | 13 | 3.8 | Moderate season |
| February | 5.1 | #10 | 46°F | 29°F | 8 | 4.6 | Moderate season |
| March | 5.7 | #7 | 54°F | 34°F | 9 | 5.7 | Moderate season |
| April | 6.0 | #3 | 60°F | 39°F | 10 | 6.5 | Moderate season |
| May | 5.8 | #5 | 66°F | 46°F | 13 | 6.9 | Busy season |
| June | 5.8 | #4 | 75°F | 54°F | 13 | 7.8 | Busy season |
| July | 5.4 | #8 | 77°F | 57°F | 14 | 7.9 | Peak season |
| August | 5.4 | #9 | 77°F | 56°F | 11 | 7.9 | Peak season |
| September | 6.0 | #1 | 69°F | 51°F | 10 | 7.9 | Busy season |
| October | 6.0 | #2 | 62°F | 44°F | 10 | 6.7 | Moderate season |
| November | 5.8 | #6 | 50°F | 36°F | 9 | 4.9 | Moderate season |
| December | 5.1 | #11 | 44°F | 30°F | 14 | 4.1 | Moderate season |
Near here
Nearby places in December
Nearby regions, nearest first. Distances are centre to centre, as the crow flies; they are not road distances or journey times.
ZurichSwitzerland · about 30 miles
Balanced Overall 4.5 · Fair weather, 45°F (7°C) · Steady all year · Cost expensive
Basel & northwest Switzerlandabout 40 miles
Balanced Overall 4.4 · Fair weather, 45°F (7°C) · Steady all year · Cost expensive
Milan, Lake Como & LombardyItaly · about 110 miles
Balanced Overall 6.8 · Good weather, 49°F (9°C) · Moderate season · Cost moderate
Lyon & the French AlpsRhône-Alpes · France · about 180 miles
Balanced Overall 5.7 · Fair weather, 48°F (9°C) · Moderate season · Cost pricey
Venice & the VenetoItaly · about 190 miles
Balanced Overall 4.0 · Poor weather, 50°F (10°C) · Low season · Cost moderate
Elsewhere in Europe
Better December weather than Lucerne & central Switzerland
Lucerne & central Switzerland's weather ranks 20 of 28 mountain regions this month. These mountain regions outside Switzerland have clearly better weather on your dates, nearest first, each compared with Lucerne & central Switzerland.
TrentinoItaly · about 140 miles
Good weather (5.8): 3°F warmer afternoons, 11 fewer rain days, cheaper
South Tyrol & the DolomitesItaly · about 140 miles
Good weather (5.3): about as warm, 8 fewer rain days, cheaper
La RiojaSpain · about 630 miles
Good weather (6.2): 10°F warmer afternoons, 6 fewer rain days, cheaper
Western MacedoniaGreece · about 790 miles
Good weather (5.6): 5°F warmer afternoons, 7 fewer rain days, busier for its season (busy season), cheaper
Sofia & the southwestBulgaria · about 800 miles
Good weather (5.4): 2°F warmer afternoons, 7 fewer rain days, cheaper
How we knowSources, regional scope & scoring method Show detailsHide details
It's moderate season, 46% of the busiest month and 27% below its average month. That means about 12,000 overnight visitors on a typical December night across the region, 49% of them from Switzerland itself. Rentals booked through Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor add up to 1,800 more: 14 for every 100 counted above. Some are the same properties counted twice.
| Climate suitability (HCI:Urban, 0–100) | 55 |
| How our weather was checked | 16 open weather stations in this region, January and July: afternoon highs typically within 2°F (0.9°C), night lows within 1°F (0.4°C). |
| Tourist nights per 1,000 residents per day | 14 |
| Busiest month here | July · 31 |
| Visitors as share of people present | 1.4% |
| Rank among Europe's regions this month | 79th percentile |
| Domestic share of nights | 49% |
| Platform rental nights per 100 counted nights | 14 |
| Visitor share if every platform night were extra | 1.6% |
| National hotel-price season | Switzerland historical 2024–2025 index: A little below usual (−5% vs its average month). Not a local room quote. |
| Population used | 864,000 |
| Statistical region | CH06 · Zentralschweiz |
Crowds: Eurostat nights spent at tourist accommodation, by month and NUTS 2 region, 2024–2025 average. Overnight visitors per night is the month's nights divided by its days; the per-1,000 figure is Eurostat's, against each year's population. Platform rentals: Eurostat nights booked via Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor, 2024–2025 average, shown separately because some properties are in both counts. Weather: Holiday Climate Index computed from ERA5 reanalysis with daily highs, night lows and rain days corrected from open national weather-service station records, 2011–2025, population-weighted to the region; day-by-day figures are the same data averaged by date. Heat and rain odds are counted across those years. Sunrise and sunset: NOAA solar equations, local time. Prices: Eurostat price level index and HICP, national. Full method · this region's data.